Clay Aiken

The second season of "American Idol" (Fox, 2002- ) proved most noteworthy for the rise of Clay Aiken from nerdy country boy-next-door to unlikely heartthrob on the strength of his powerhouse vocals an...
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Clay Aiken's failed bid for the U.S. Congress has been filmed for a new documentary. The former American Idol star ran as a Democrat to attain a North Carolina congressional seat, but it was announced on Tuesday (04Nov14) he was beaten to the post by Republican Renee Ellmers.
The series follows Aiken while he canvasses, debates, holds strategy meetings and tours in his bid for the seat.
The as-yet-unnamed show will air on U.S network Esquire next year (15) and was made by award-winning brothers Simon and Jonathan Chinn.
In a statement, Simon says, "We were granted incredible access during the making of this documentary, and in turn were able to capture the internal workings of an American campaign - the good, the bad and the ugly."

Singer Clay Aiken has lost his bid for a North Carolina congressional seat. The former American Idol runner-up, a Democrat, was up against incumbent Republican Renee Ellmers in the state's 2nd District, but with 93 per cent of the vote counted late Tuesday night (04Nov14), Aiken trailed behind Ellmers, who received 59 per cent of the vote.
Ellmers, who was first elected to Congress in 2010, was considered the favourite in the conservative district.
Aiken's day began with a rough start - his campaign bus broke down as it left a polling station and police had to tow it off the road, according to local news station WTVD.
Aiken won the Democratic primary in May (14) by default, after his rival, businessman Keith Crisco, died a day before the election.

"Anybody who takes inappropriate pictures of themselves deserves exactly what they get... And it's unfortunate that we don't have Internet security right now or the laws in place to protect people from pirating that stuff." Singer-turned-politician Clay Aiken on the recent nude photo scandal, which hit celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence and Kaley Cuoco Sweeting.

Actress Angelina Jolie wouldn't rule out a career in politics if she felt she could be effective while in office.
The Salt star is known for her humanitarian work around the world and while she previously denied she would ever run because of her "skeletons in the closet," she is now open to the idea.
She says, "I wonder if by now if my skeletons are out. They're probably all out. "You know, if I thought I'd be effective, I would. But I'm not sure if I would ever be taken seriously in that way, and be able to be effective."

Singer Clay Aiken has won a chance to fight for a North Carolina congressional seat, according to reports from his home state. The former American Idol star contested the Democratic primary with businessman Keith Crisco and now, a day after his rival's death, Aiken looks set to face Republican incumbent Renee Ellmers in November (14).
State officials posted the results of the vote on Tuesday (13May14) and it appears Aiken won the 2nd Congressional District race with more than 40 per cent of the vote.
Crisco had reportedly acknowledged defeat before his death on Monday (12May14).

Singer Clay Aiken has been left "deeply saddened" by the sudden death of his main opponent in his bid to join the U.S. congress.
The American Idol runner-up held a slight lead over 71-year-old businessman Keith Crisco in last week's (ends09May14) Democratic Party primary for a U.S. House seat in his native North Carolina, but on Monday (12May14), it was announced that Crisco had been found dead at his home in Asheboro after reportedly sustaining injuries in a fall. Aiken took to Twitter.com on Monday afternoon (12May14) to offer his condolences.
He wrote, "I am stunned and deeply saddened by Keith Crisco’s death. He was a gentleman, a good and honorable man and an extraordinary public servant. I am suspending all campaign activities as we pray for his family and friends."
Final election results won't be released until later this week (ends18May14), but the singer was reportedly just 369 points ahead of Crisco. A spokesman for North Carolina’s Board of Elections tells ABC News that if the results of the primary favour Crisco as the winner, then the district executive committee of the Democratic Party will choose the nominee.

Singer Clay Aiken has been given an unfortunate boost in his bid to become a North Carolina politician - his main opponent has died. The American Idol runner-up ran against 71-year-old businessman Keith Crisco in last week's (ends09May14) Democratic Party primary for a U.S. House seat, and now it appears Aiken will romp to victory after his rival was found dead at his home in Asheboro.
Crisco reportedly died from injuries sustained in a fall.
Last week's (06May14) election was too close to call, although early estimates suggested Aiken was slightly ahead.
The singer has yet to comment on his opponent's death.

Singer Clay Aiken's former American Idol opponent Ruben Studdard has endorsed the pop star's bid for a seat in the U.S. Congress. In February (14), the singer formally announced his candidacy for the House of Representatives Democratic seat in North Carolina's second district, where he will go up against two-term Republican Congresswoman Renee Ellmers.
With the Democratic primary election scheduled for next week (06May14), Aiken turned to his celebrity pal, who beat him into second place on the reality TV singing competition in 2003, for a campaign boost.
In a radio message, Studdard defends Aiken against recent political attacks from his opponents, saying, "I'm proud to call him my friend, but you'll be proud to call him your congressman.
"Now one of his opponents is attacking him for not showing up for some meetings. Truth is, Clay's dedicated his life to helping people with disabilities... Now Clay's foundation helps children with special needs in 35 states. That's the real Clay Aiken, and Congress needs more people like him."
Aiken adds, "We already have too many Washington (D.C.) politicians who will say anything to get elected. I'm running for Congress because I believe that public service should be about helping others. We need more people in Congress who believe that too."
If he wins over his fellow party supporters, Aiken will go up against Ellmers at the general election on 4 November (14).

Singer Clay Aiken has made his bid for a seat in the U.S. Congress official by filing papers to formally announce his candidacy. The former American Idol runner-up, a Democrat, recently declared plans to enter politics and run for the House of Representatives seat in North Carolina's second district, going up against two-term Republican Congresswoman Renee Ellmers.
The openly gay star lodged his paperwork at the State Board of Elections on Thursday (27Feb14) to ensure his name will appear on the ballot for the upcoming Democratic primary election on 6 May (14).
If he wins over his fellow party supporters, he will go up against Ellmers at the general election on 4 November (14).
He says, "I am comfortable with myself. I am comfortable with the campaign we're running. I am positive that people are going to vote for the person who they think will do the best job, who they think can win in November."
Other candidates have yet to be announced, but Friday (28Feb14) is the final day election applications will be accepted.

American Idol alumni Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood are at the centre of a lawsuit against Sony Music Entertainment bosses, alleging the record label executives owe them more than $10 million (£6 million) in royalties. Bosses at 19 Recordings, the company founded by American Idol creator Simon Fuller, which oversees contestants' record deals, is claiming Sony Music executives have been shorting royalties on the talent show's artists, including two of its most successful singers, Clarkson and Underwood.
After initial settlement talks failed, 19 Recordings representatives filed the suit at a U.S. district court on Thursday (20Feb14), alleging "a wide array of underpayments by Sony, including systematically incorrect calculations, which resulted in significant underpayments".
19 bosses allege they are due compensation from digital streaming royalties, music videos, compilation albums and more, while Sony bosses insist this is not the case, and in some instances they actually overpaid the artists.
Along with Clarkson and Underwood, other alums including Chris Daughtry and Clay Aiken have been named as artists who have been shorted of the royalties.
19 bosses are asking for compensatory damages in excess of $7 million (£4.2 million), and interest of at least $3 million (£1.8 million).

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Summary

The second season of "American Idol" (Fox, 2002- ) proved most noteworthy for the rise of Clay Aiken from nerdy country boy-next-door to unlikely heartthrob on the strength of his powerhouse vocals and charming personality. Overshadowing the season's winner, Ruben Studdard, Aiken enjoyed an enviable string of recording, tour and television success, striking multiplatinum with the album <i>Measure of a Man</i> and hitting No. 1 with "This Is the Night." An easy target for his less-than-masculine demeanor and dramatically earnest performing style, Aiken's rise as a good-natured pop culture punch line only incited his fans, the self-proclaimed "Claymates," to defend and promote him all the more ferociously. Even his most passionate fans cooled, however, when he finally quelled career-long rumors by coming out of the closet and simultaneously announcing that he and a platonic female friend were new parents via artificial insemination. As his music industry success waned, Aiken appeared on Broadway in "Monty Python's Spamalot," but would always hold the distinction of being one of the all-time most successful "Idol" alums.